The Effects of PPAR Agonists on Atherosclerosis and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in ApoE−/−FXR−/− Mice

Background@#Farnesoid X receptor (FXR), a bile acid–activated nuclear receptor, is a potent regulator of glucose and lipid metabolism as well as of bile acid metabolism. Previous studies have demonstrated that FXR deficiency is associated with metabolic derangements, including atherosclerosis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but its mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of FXR in atherosclerosis and NAFLD and the effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonists in mouse models with FXR deficiency. @*Methods@#En face lipid accumulation analysis, liver histology, serum levels of glucose and lipids, and mRNA expression of genes related to lipid metabolism were compared between apolipoprotein E (ApoE)−/− and ApoE−/−FXR−/− mice. The effects of PPARα and PPARγ agonists were also compared in both groups of mice. @*Results@#Compared with ApoE−/− mice, ApoE−/−FXR−/− mice showed more severe atherosclerosis, hepatic steatosis, and higher levels of serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, accompanied by increased mRNA expression of FAS, ApoC2, TNFα, IL-6 (liver), ATGL, TGH, HSL, and MGL (adipocytes), and decreased mRNA expressions of CPT2 (liver) and Tfam (skeletal muscle). Treatment with a PPARα agonist, but not with a PPARγ agonist, partly reversed atherosclerosis and hepatic steatosis, and decreased plasma triglyceride levels in the ApoE−/−FXR−/− mice, in association with increased mRNA expression of CD36 and FATP and decreased expression of ApoC2 and ApoC3 (liver). @*Conclusion@#Loss of FXR is associated with aggravation of atherosclerosis and hepatic steatosis in ApoE-deficient mice, which could be reversed by a PPARα agonist through induction of fatty acid uptake, β-oxidation, and triglyceride hydrolysis.

Purple Urine Bag Syndrome in Male / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Purple urine bag syndrome (PUBS) was first reported in 1978, and is a rare phenomenon in which purple staining of the bags occurs, with a violet discoloration of the plastic of the catheter bag due to fine blue crystals of indigo in the urine. PUBS occurs predominantly in chronically catheterized constipated women, and is associated with urinary tract infections due to bacteria that produce sulphatase/phosphatase. A 70-year old male patient, who as used a suprapubic cystocatheter for almost 12 months, due to acute urinary retention, visited to our department with a purple colored urine bag. PUBS has previously been reported to be observed mostly in female patients. Herein, we report a rare case of PUBS in male patient.

Penile Fracture: Clinical Findings and Surgical Treatment / 대한남성과학회지

PURPOSE: Penile fracture is a relatively rare condition that is defined as a traumatic rupture of the tunica albuginea followed by subsequent subcutaneous hematoma of various degrees. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical presentations and outcomes of the treatment according to causes of penile fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 1998 and December 2002, ten patients aged 19 to 65 years underwent immediate surgical repair on the first or second day after fracture of the penis at our hospital. All patients came to the hospital 20 minutes to 34 hours after the injury. A complete history of the patient was taken and a thorough examination was performed including physical examination and cavernosography. RESULTS: All patients had taken cavernosography. Three of the patients showed hematuria(microscopic or gross) and were taken retrograde urethrography. All patients were surgically treated. Nine patients showed unilateral corporal ruptures. Two patients had urethral injuries; one had a total urethral rupture and the other had a corporal spongiosal partial tearing. Regardless of the causes of penile fractures, the lesions on the penile mid-shaft were the most common. Of the direction of lesions the transverse tearings of tunica albuginea at 6 to 8 o'clock position were the most common. At follow-up, all patients who were available reported erections adequate for intercourse without erectile or voiding dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: All patients were treated successfully by immediate surgical repair regardless of the causes of the penile fractures, which is recommended for penile fracture.

A Semi-Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction for Amplification of Chlamydia trachomatis Omp1 Gene / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: Chlamydia trachomatis(CT) infection is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease. Because of vague symptoms and delayed diagnosis, untreated infection can be transmitted to sexual partners and progress to infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy. Genotyping and serotyping for CT are very important to establish contact networks and for epidemiological and evolutionary studies. Cryptic plasmid and omp1 genes are targets for the detection of CT. Although the plasmid is a good target for amplification, it is very difficult to analyze sequences from the plasmid amplicons. The omp1 gene is an ideal target for sequence analysis because of large and publicized data deposits on the internet. However, very few studies have been published using a polymerase chain reaction(PCR) for the detection of the chlamydial omp1 gene in Korea. The purpose of this study was to detect CT infection with semi-nested amplification of the chlamydial omp1 gene. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from the urethral swabs of 20 patients with urethritis or idiopathic chronic prostatitis, and from the vaginal swabs of 80 patients attending the gynecology clinic due to various vaginal symptoms. The primers were designed on omp1 genes from 12 CT and 2 sequences of lymphogranuloma venereum. The estimated products from the first and second rounds of PCR were 656 and 100 bp, respectively. RESULTS: With the 1st PCR bands there were confusing and non-specific bands, but all the specific PCR products from the 1st and 2nd amplifications with new primer sets were identified. CT was identified in 2 of 20 male patients (10%) and 4 of 80 female patients (5%). CONCLUSIONS: CT infections were detected from patients with semi-nested amplifications of the chlamydial omp1 gene. The semi-nested PCR method may be a more sensitive and specific test than first round PCR.